Cigarette substitute device

ABSTRACT

A cigarette substitute device for reducing a user&#39;s smoking habit has a tubular body of material adapted to simulate a cigarette; with the device at the mouth of user a predetermined taste or fragrance, or both, is provided by suction of the device. Handling and manipulation of the device and a taste or fragrance provide psychological and physiological satisfaction to aid in reducing smoking by the user.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The hazards to health from the smoking of combustible cigarettesfor the smoker, as well as to non-smokers exposed to second-hand smokeare well known. Many people do not appreciate smokers in their presence,and there is societal pressure against smoking. Cigarette smoking hasbeen banned in many public places, restaurants, aircraft, hospitals andwork places.

[0002] Psychological aspects, behavior and manipulation are involved forhabitual smokers, including holding a cigarette in the fingers,positioning the cigarette between the lips, drawing of smoke through acigarette, as well as the smell and taste of smoking. Such behavior andaspects satisfy certain psychological needs of a smoker in addition tothe physiological effects of nicotine from cigarettes.

[0003] Devices have heretofore been provided which have involvednon-nicotine devices, and some prior art devices have involved deliveryof nicotine vapor to the user. Inhaling of nicotine vapor has notgenerally provided satisfactory results.

[0004] There is a continued need for an adequate substitute forcombustible cigarette smoking to aid in reducing or eliminating smokingby an habitual smoker, which substitute may satisfy at least some of thephysiological and psychological needs of the habitual smoker who isseeking to reduce the use of cigarettes.

[0005] The present invention provides a cigarette substitute device forreduction of smoking by a user, which has a tubular body with a passagetherethrough, and which is adapted for placement in the mouth of aperson for drawing of air therethrough. The device is sized andconfigurated to simulate an individual cigarette and has an inner endfor engagement with the mouth of a user. The body comprises materialadapted to provide a predetermined taste, a predetermined fragrance, orboth, for the user upon being dissolved at the mouth of a user.Preferably a tubular handle is disposed about the body adjacent to aninner end thereof for the user to grasp for manipulation to avoidmaterial adhering to the fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 shows a package configurated and sized like a cigarettepackage with a plurality of devices of the invention therein;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person's fingers and mouth inrelation to the device of FIG. 1 while grasping the device with itsinner end at the mouth of the user;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view showing interior features ofthe device of the present invention; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partially in section of the deviceof FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment 10 of thedevice of the invention is shown as generally configurated to simulate acigarette and to be accommodated in a conventional cigarette packagewith a plurality of devices according to the invention.

[0011] The cigarette substitute device 10 comprises a tubular body 12 ofmaterial adapted to be dissolved in a person's mouth to provide tasteand psychological effect to aid the user and provide a substitute forsmoking and satisfaction to aid in overcoming a smoking habit.

[0012] Elongated tubular body 12 has therethrough a passage 14 for thedrawing of air therethrough and into the mouth of a user. The device 10has an inner end adapted to be engaged between the lips of a user, andan outer end portion. The device 10 preferably has such diameter andlength as to approximate those of a conventional cigarette, andpreferably has a coloration similar to that of a cigarette.

[0013] A tubular handle 16, typically of plastic, is disposed about aportion of the body 12 and spaced from the inner end of the body, asviewed in FIG. 4. The inner end portion of the tubular body of materialis disposed in the mouth of a user during use.

[0014] A tube 18 is disposed about the body adjacent to its outer endand is adapted for grasping by the fingers of the user to urge the body12 relative to handle 16 to provide progressive portions of material atthe mouth of a user.

[0015] In utilizing the device, a person removes one of the devices fromthe simulated cigarette package of FIG. 1. The user removes at least aportion of a sheet plastic cover 20 and places end portion 12 of thedevice in his mouth. The plastic sheet cover 20 provides for storage andfor sanitary handling, as well as to prevent adhesion of material to thefingers of a user. The body material may preferably be adapted toprovide a predetermined flavor, a predetermined fragrance, or both apredetermined flavor and fragrance. Air is then drawn through thepassage 14 in the device in the direction of arrows 22, 24 into themouth of the user, thus simulating smoking and, with the taste providedby the body of material, simulates smoking to provide satisfaction bythe drawing of air through the device, the taste of the material of thebody 12 and the manipulation procedure involved in the simulation ofsmoking.

[0016] The body 12 may be formed of a material having any of a varietyof taste and ingredients appropriate to a particular individual. It maycomprise a material which provides a simulated tobacco flavor, with orwithout other flavoring. The material may provide such candy flavors aswintergreen, menthol, spearmint, peppermint, chocolate, orange, etc. Thematerial may comprise an antacid, such as products having the name TUMSto relieve nervousness of the many smokers who are high-strung ornervous types.

[0017] It will be appreciated that the cigarette substitute device ofthe invention provides certain psychological and physiologicalsatisfactions to a user which at least partially satisfy the craving oftobacco and satisfy, at least partially, psychological and physiologicalneeds of a smoker to aid in overcoming a smoking habit.

[0018] It will be understood that various changes and modifications maybe made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departingfrom the scope of the present invention, which is established by thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

The inventor claims:
 1. A cigarette substitute device for reducingsmoking by a user, comprising: a generally tubular body having a passagetherethrough and being adapted for placement in the mouth of a user fordrawing air into the mouth of the user, said body being sized andconfigurated to generally simulate the size and configuration of anindividual cigarette, said body having an outer end and an inner end forengagement with the mouth of a user, and said body material beingadapted to provide at least one of (a) a predetermined taste, (b) apredetermined fragrance, (c) both a predetermined taste andpredetermined fragrance, (d) an antacid, upon being dissolved in themouth of a user.
 2. A device according to claim 1, and furthercomprising: a tubular handle disposed about the body adjacent to saidinner end thereof for grasping by the fingers of the user to manipulatethe device and avoid material adhering to the fingers of the user.
 3. Adevice according to claim 1, and further comprising: a tube disposedabout said body adjacent to said outer end for grasping by fingers ofthe user to urge the body toward the mouth of a user to provideprogressively successive portions of the material to the mouth of theuser.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein: said body material isadapted to provide one of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavorand a fragrance, (d) an antacid, whereby psychological benefits arederived.
 5. A device according to claim 2, wherein: said body materialis adapted to provide one of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavorand a fragrance, whereby psychological benefits are derived.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein: said body material is adapted to provideone of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavor and a fragrance,whereby psychological benefits are derived.
 7. A device according toclaim 1, and further comprising: a plastic sheet cover material disposedabout a substantial portion of the device and removable by a user, saidcover providing for sanitary handling and prevention of adherence ofmaterial to the fingers of a user.
 8. A cigarette substitute device forreducing smoking by a user, comprising: a generally tubular body havinga passage therethrough and being adapted for placement in the mouth of auser for drawing air into the mouth of the user, said body being sizedand configurated to generally simulate the size and configuration of anindividual cigarette, said body having an outer end and an inner end forengagement with the mouth of a user, a tubular handle disposed about thebody adjacent to said inner end thereof for grasping by the fingers ofthe user to manipulate the device and avoid material adhering to thefingers of the user, and said body material being adapted to provide atleast one of (a) a predetermined taste, (b) a predetermined fragrance,(c) both a predetermined taste and predetermined fragrance, (d) anantacid, upon being dissolved in the mouth of a user.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 8, and further comprising: a tube disposed about saidbody adjacent to said outer end for grasping by fingers of the user tourge the body toward the mouth of a user to provide progressivelysuccessive portions of the material to the mouth of the user.
 10. Adevice according to claim 8, and further comprising: a plastic sheetcover material disposed about a substantial portion of the device andremovable by a user, said cover providing for sanitary handling andprevention of adherence of material to the fingers of a user.